Luke 4:18-19 – The Spirit of the Lord [is] upon Me, because He has anointed Me to preach the good news to the poor; He has sent Me to announce release to the captives and recovery of sight to the blind, to send forth as delivered those who are oppressed [who are downtrodden, bruised, crushed, and broken down by calamity], to proclaim the accepted and acceptable year of the Lord [the day when salvation and the free favors of God profusely abound]. Then He rolled up the book and gave it back to the attendant and sat down; and the eyes of all in the synagogue were gazing [attentively] at Him.
Why did Jesus come? What was He anointed to do?
- To preach the good news to the poor (ptochos – beggar, poor man, beggarly, needy, to be poor as a beggar, to be destitute).
- To heal (make whole) the brokenhearted (bruised, broken to shivers, broken in pieces, crushed)
- To announce release (deliverance, forgiveness, liberty, pardon) to the captives (prisoners of war).
- To announce recovery of sight to the blind (from opaque, smoky, physically or mentally blind).
- To send forth as delivered those who are oppressed (downtrodden, bruised, crushed and broken down by calamity).
- To proclaim the accepted and acceptable year of the Lord – the day when salvation and free favors of God profusely abound).
Here is the Old Testament reference to the same passage.
Isaiah 61:1-3 – The Spirit of the Lord God is upon me, because the Lord has anointed and qualified me to preach the Gospel of good tidings to the meek, the poor, and afflicted; He has sent me to bind up and heal the brokenhearted, to proclaim liberty to the [physical and spiritual] captives and the opening of the prison and of the eyes to those who are bound, to proclaim the acceptable year of the Lord [the year of His favor] and the day of vengeance of our God, to comfort all who mourn, to grant [consolation and joy] to those who mourn in Zion—to give them an ornament (a garland or diadem) of beauty instead of ashes, the oil of joy instead of mourning, the garment [expressive] of praise instead of a heavy, burdened, and failing spirit—that they may be called oaks of righteousness [lofty, strong, and magnificent, distinguished for uprightness, justice, and right standing with God], the planting of the Lord, that He may be glorified.
This scripture reveals the heart of God for all men.
Matthew 9:35-38 – And Jesus went about all the cities and villages, teaching in their synagogues and proclaiming the good news (the Gospel) of the kingdom and curing all kinds of disease and every weakness and infirmity. When He saw the throngs, He was moved with pity and sympathy for them, because they were bewildered (harassed and distressed and dejected and helpless), like sheep without a shepherd. Then He said to His disciples, The harvest is indeed plentiful, but the laborers are few. So pray to the Lord of the harvest to force out and thrust laborers into His harvest.
He went out teaching and proclaiming the good news. He also cured all kinds of disease and every weakness and infirmity.
How does He see mankind in all of our needs (mostly caused by sin)? He is moved with pity and sympathy for us because we are:
- Bewildered
- Harassed
- Distressed
- Dejected
- Helpless
- Like sheep without a shepherd
To save us from these things is why He came and why once we have received our freedom He sends us out to spread the good news, the freedom and deliverance from bondage and hopelessness.
